For those who can get by with it, it is commendable that some are willing to keep the old stuff running.

For those looking at new machinery, I'd offer my own observation that:

1. There's little to differentiate between the machines offered by the many sellers out there.

2. The software is much more critical than the machinery, and getting a machine with included and preinstalled software is a whole lot cheaper than buying software for a "bargain" machine, if you're interested in doing "normal" computer stuff.

3. Fully functional current software does not run well on machines commonly offered as "bargains." There is a very large difference between what you need/needed to run older software and what you need now - and will need to live through an upgrade or two - if you're looking at a new machine.

Microsoft has recently moved Windows 95 to "unsupported" status. This means that fixes and data sheets currently available will remain in their support system, but they will generate no new fixes to support Win95.

Win98SE - with current free upgrades - can do about anything you're likely to need now, but is apparently no longer sold by Microsoft. This means that it is likely to move to "unsupported" status within a few months (or very few years). Win98 security support has already been turned over to an "offsite support" location.

The most commonly offered software package, WindowsXP Home and Office Home, are "twinky toys." These are not "full function" software. I have a couple of friends who've bought them, and I've just about reached the point of being rude when they ask for help - because these software sets simply are not capable of doing "what everybody else can do," and I'm running out of ways to explain that to them.

If you really want to spend the time and effort to "roll your own" system, then you probably don't need my advice.

There really isn't a trouble-free "turn on and run" system, but the closest you can get is Windows XP Professional or Windows 2000 Professional, with Office Professional for working tools.

Because these - and other stuff you'll want later - are large programs, the minimum acceptable hard drive is, perhaps 20MB, and I'd recommend a minimum of 40MB. The ABSOLUTE MINIMUM RAM you should buy into in a new machine is probably 256MB now. (And if you can, make sure there's a free slot to double it later.)

You must have a CD-ROM, since that's the only way you can install current software. There's no good reason not to replace the CD-ROM with a CD-R/W, unless you may want to copy CDs - in which case it's convenient to have separate read and record drives. You can get by with one CD-R/W, but if you plan to do that - kick the Hard Drive up in size (at least to the 40MB), since you'll need to copy to free space there to burn from. (You could consider a DVD drive as a replacement for the separate CD-ROM, if you make sure that the one you get reads data CDs reliably - a few don't.)

If you don't get an installation CD for BOTH the Operating System AND the main program suite, then you're being cheated and you're probably dealing with a thief. (Some people find this acceptable.) Put these in a safe place, even if you have to rip up a floor board and seal them in wax.

Summary: Get the system with the best sofware package.

Note: No software with the word "HOME" in it's name is worth buying.

John